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What We’re Hearing. The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy announced a $2 million initiative called Affordable Pennsylvania aimed at holding Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Scott Perry (PA-10) accountable for voting to slash health care funding, drive up the cost of groceries, and jeopardize Social Security.

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Top Story

1. A Tide of Change

“Returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump promised: “A tide of change is sweeping the country.”

In the 100 days that followed, Trump delivered a deluge of orders unprecedented in modern presidential history aimed at reshaping immigration policy and the global economy, reducing the size of the federal government, and shifting the nation’s cultural priorities.

As some of his supporters applaud the sweeping governmental transformation, thousands of people directly impacted by those policies have faced disruptions big and small. In Pennsylvania — a key state in Trump’s victory — the widespread fallout from the federal overhaul is still to be determined, but for some individuals it has already been profound.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

McCormick Makes Big Play in Bitcoin While His Committee Considers Regulation. “Pennsylvania’s junior Sen. Dave McCormick has put as much as $1 million dollars of his own money into bitcoin this year. No problem there. However, McCormick serves on the Senate Banking Committee’s subcommittee that deals with digital assets.” (PoliticsPA)

Democrats Are Still Divided But Point to Recent Election Wins as Signs of Turnaround After Trump’s First 100 Days. “Along with nationwide protests by progressive groups and lawsuits from advocates and Democratic attorneys general, the efforts by Gov. Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s representatives on Capitol Hill make up a resistance that’s still divided and in search of a leading messenger.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fox News: Trump Job Performance Approval at 44%. “After 100 days into his second term, President Donald Trump is not viewed favorably by 5 of 9 respondents in the latest Fox News poll.” (PoliticsPA)

Dems See Trump as Vulnerable on the Economy — If They Can Come Up With An Alternative. “Following its latest round of focus groups, Navigator Research is urging Democrats to proactively push their own economic policies. “He promised he was going to help with the economy,” said a white woman from Pennsylvania. “I definitely feel like he’s not keeping his promises and I regret voting for him.”” (Politico)

State

2. Costly Cyber Charter Tuition Is Consuming Tens of Millions of New State Dollars For Poor PA Schools

“A surge of taxpayer money approved last year to help students in Pennsylvania’s poorest schools is being used by dozens of districts to pay growing charter school bills that officials say are imperiling their budgets.

In district after district, administrators told the state and Spotlight PA that this spending was particularly driven by rapid growth in expenses related to cyber charter schools — an online-only education option that has gained popularity since the pandemic. Cyber charters have faced scrutiny in the state for their educational outcomes, and lawmakers say their funding structure is outdated and too burdensome for public school districts.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Joining Coalition of 23 State AGs to Sue the Trump Administration For Dismantling AmeriCorps. “The suit alleges that DOGE acted unlawfully by bypassing Congress to gut AmeriCorps, a federal community service program that provides support for disaster relief and anti-poverty projects.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvania Head Start Joins National HHS Lawsuit. “Pennsylvania Head Start and others filed the federal complaint in Washington state on Monday, following news of a leaked HHS budget that proposes cutting Head Start funding.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

PA House Passes Conklin Bill to Regulate Virtual Currency. “Rep. Scott Conklin, who is majority chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said he introduced H.B. 881 to ensure consumer confidence that exchanges made with digital currency are as safe and reliable as money transactions and are regulated in the same manner.” (NorthCentralPA.com)

Embattled Commonwealth University President to Step Down in July. “Bashar Hanna, the embattled president of Commonwealth University will step down July 31, he announced Tuesday. Hanna will become vice chancellor for strategic initiatives for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.” (WVIA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. As Trump Finishes His First 100 Days, We Asked Levittown: How’s the President Doing?

“As U.S. President Donald Trump crosses the first 100 days of his second term, what does Levittown think of the job he’s doing?

Throughout nearly three-quarters of a century, the iconic post-World War II suburb of Levittown has been dominated by blue collar, middle-class Democratic Party voters in Lower Bucks County. It could be considered a bellwether of the average American voter.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Elsewhere

Mayoral Candidates Tackle Climate Change, Transit Funding at Forum. “All four candidates for mayor of Pittsburgh took the stage Tuesday for a forum where they touched on topics ranging from public safety, to climate change.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

5 Harrisburg Mayor Candidates Detail Plans For City’s Struggling Downtown. “Harrisburg business leaders insist the city’s deteriorating downtown has reached an “inflection point” and the next mayor must lead an all-out effort to reinvent the core of Pennsylvania’s capital city.” (PennLive)

Trump Orders List of ‘Sanctuary’ Cities to Punish; Allentown Could Be Included. “Allentown could be among numerous cities targeted by the federal government for not supporting President Donald Trump’s policies targeting immigrant communities.” (LehighValleyNews)

Parsons Sat on $57,000 in Campaign Cash Before Surprise State Senate Loss. “Josh Parsons could have spent another $57,000 on the March 25 special election for a Senate seat in northern Lancaster County — a race he was expected to win easily but lost narrowly.” (LNP)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• The Gainey 2025 Budget Was a Lie, and Overruns on Overtime Prove It. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• State Government Can Secure Our Access to the Ballot. (Kadida Kenner) 
• Pittsburgh’s Political Divide Shouldn’t Break Our Bonds — A Call For Collaborative Leadership. (Leon Ford)
• Confronting the Collapse of Local News in Pennsylvania. (Tara Bradley-Steck)

1 Thing

5. No Flow: The Point’s Iconic Fountain to Stay Dry in 2025 Amid Upgrades

“Don’t expect to see the waterworks anytime soon at Point State Park.

The majestic fountain that marks the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three iconic rivers won’t be turned on until 2026, due to a bevy of planned upgrades, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said Tuesday.

State officials plan to spend $3.4 million in the coming months at the park that defines Downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

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